Effect of Intra Row Spacing and Tillage on Yield and Yield Components of Maize Pigeon Pea Cropping System

Inclusion of legumes in cropping system can play an increasingly important role to sustain crop production and ensure food security in small holder farmers. The present study initiated with the objective to identify compatible spacing between pigeon pea plants under maize plants with conservation tillage and conventional tillage on growth and yield of component crops. Treatments consisted of three intra row spacing (20,30,40,50 cm) of pigeon pea under maize recommended spacing and two tillage practices (conservation tillage and conventional farmers practices) were lied in randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Maize variety BH546 was used with spacing of 80*40 cm (2 seeds per hill) and Pigeon pea Hindi variety was used in between maize rows based on the intra row spacing of pigeon peato their respective treatments. Fertilizer and field management deployed as to recommendation for maize production. Environment (location by year) had highly significant effect on all maize parameters tested.The highest stand count (45), plant height (247cm), Ear height (138 cm), number of cobs harvest (44). Above ground biomass (18369 kg -ha) were observed from Boricha in 2019. On the other hand, the highest 367g thousand seed weight and 6297kg ha-1 grain yield were from Halaba in 2020. Maize crop was not affected by tillage methods and pigeon pea spacing. The response of all parameters tested for pigeon pea significantly (p<0.05) influenced by environment, tillage and intra row spacing. Thus, maize with either of the pigeon pea intra row spacing and minimum tillage can provide alternative option for resource poor farmers to ensure food security through improved grain yield of component crops at all tested locations.

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